Civilians: The hidden force shaping wartime outcomes

Success in warfare is determined by various factors. First, the patriotic spirit that drives soldiers. Second, the quality of training the troops receive during peacetime. Third, the effectiveness of the arsenal at their disposal. However, the most critical factor contributing to victory, in my view, is the cohesion between the nation and the armed forces before, during, and after a war. As a captain who served and participated in the historic tank battle in the fields of Chawinda, Sialkot, during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, I was a fortunate witness to this “Mother of all factors”-the unwavering unity between Pakistan’s citizens and its military.

On September 13, 1965, Pakistan’s 6th Armoured Division, supported by the 15th Infantry Division was locked in a fierce battle against India’s 1st Armoured Division, backed by a Mountain Division and an Infantry Division, in the fields of Chawinda, Sialkot. I was serving as a captain in Pakistan’s 6th Armoured Division. During the intense exchange of fire and fury from 600 tanks of both rivals, and with aerial bombardment at its peak, I was summoned by HQ 6th Armoured Division and tasked with an urgent mission: to deliver a “top secret” message to the neighbouring 15th Infantry Division, engaged in battle around Sialkot.

It was around 10.00 a.m. when, accompanied by two soldiers and a driver, I set out on a jeep journey from near Pasrur to Sialkot-a distance typically covered in about an hour during peacetime. My journey took longer, as I had to be cautious of potential ambushes by Indian commandos who were reported to have infiltrated the area. Additionally, I had to hide the vehicle under roadside trees whenever Indian Gnat fighters were spotted in the sky.

After completing the task in Sialkot, I waited for dusk to resume my journey back to Chawinda, aiming to avoid detection by Indian Air Force aircraft, which were particularly active just before sunset. As the sun set, my jeep cruised along the Sialkot-Pasrur road when, near Alhar village, I encountered a road blockade formed by a crowd of men and women. The villagers were highly cooperative, and after halting my jeep, they presented a woman they suspected of being an Indian spy. Intelligence agencies had earlier reported the deployment of female spies by Indian forces into Pakistani territory.

At first glance, I thought the villagers were overreacting to a stranger in their midst. The woman, slightly taller than average, was dressed in dirty, tattered clothes, and her hair was matted with dust. Her appearance suggested she was older, fitting what we describe in Urdu as ‘adhair umar’ (middle-aged). I intended to drive off, but recognising the villagers’ patriotic spirit, I asked them to take the “spy” inside one of the houses, as it had grown dark outside, and using a light could attract unwanted attention in the battle environment.

The room in which the “spy’ entered was lit up. While inspecting her rough hands i found the corner of nail of little finger slightly coloured. On closer look I felt the little mark was the left-over of a nail-polish on her nail. I asked the women around me to comb her groggy dust-covered head hair. The “spy’ groaned pain as the woman combing hair was rather rough. The mysterious picture got clearer.

Inside the lit room, I noticed something peculiar while examining her rough hands, the corner of her little finger’s nail was slightly tinted, suggesting traces of nail polish. Her hair, though unkempt, was actually a short, fashionable cut. A closer look at her face revealed she was not as old as her rough facial skin initially implied. I then asked the women present to inspect her under her clothes, and it was confirmed that her youthful appearance did not match her outward rough look. She was a young woman in disguise.

I thanked the vigilant villagers and took the woman into custody. She was handed over to the Army intelligence unit for further investigation. A professional interrogation later confirmed that she was indeed an Indian spy sent by Indian forces into Pakistani territory during the war. She was in her twenties and had previously been a teacher at the Maharashtra School of Arts and Acting in Bombay (now Mumbai).

The capture of the woman spy was a direct result of the alertness and diligence of the villagers, whose efforts secured a valuable asset for Pakistan’s military intelligence. This incident stands as a testament to the vital role that cohesion between a nation and its armed forces plays in wartime success, affirming the belief that such unity is indeed the most critical factor in achieving victory.

– The author is a retired army colonel. He served as Director (Public Relation) WAPDA for three years, member Federal Board of Film Censor Islamabad for 4.5 years, Editor Frontier Post Peshawar’s daily newspaper. He contributes articles in English, Urdu, Pashto newspapers/magazines and appears on television talk shows. He can be accessed at northpole716@gmail.com